Asm. Gerry Scharfenberger

Maddy summaryThis bill requires public school students in New Jersey to have written parental consent to participate in health, family life education, or sex education programs. It changes current law, which allows excusal if parents provide a statement objecting to specific content, to mandate active written consent instead. Students whose parents do not provide this written consent will be excused from those lessons without academic penalties like losing credit or graduation eligibility. The bill directly affects all K-12 public school students in New Jersey and their families regarding participation in these specific curriculum areas.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey voters to present a physical identification document at polling places when voting. Acceptable IDs include a New Jersey driver's license, passport, voter registration card, birth certificate, or utility bill (if used as supplemental ID). Voters without primary ID must provide two forms of supplemental ID, such as a utility bill with their name and address. The bill allows election officials to challenge a voter's eligibility only if the ID presented does not match the voter's information, ensuring voters can still cast ballots with acceptable documentation.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a $2,000 tax exemption for New Jersey volunteer firefighters, first aid, and rescue squad members who meet specific service and training requirements. To qualify, firefighters must serve the entire year, respond to at least 60% of fire alarms and drills, and hold Firefighter I certification; rescue and first aid members must respond to at least 10% of rescue alarms and drills and have approved training or EMT certification. Volunteer organizations must submit annual lists of eligible members to the state for verification by March 31. The exemption applies to taxable years starting after the bill's enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill gradually reduces New Jersey's Corporation Business Tax (CBT) rate for businesses operating in the state. It lowers the rate from 9% to 2.5% over time, with specific reductions: 7% for 2021, 5% for 2022, 3% for 2023, and 2.5% for 2024 and beyond. The bill also provides accelerated reductions for smaller businesses, lowering the tax rate for those with less than $100,000 in income to 3.5% in 2021 and 2.5% starting in 2022. The tax rate applies to taxable net income for businesses with privilege periods ending on or after July 31, 2019.

Maddy summaryThis bill revises the rules for determining the "base year" used to calculate homestead property tax reimbursements after a qualifying resident relocates within New Jersey. It eliminates the requirement for eligible claimants (seniors or disabled homeowners meeting income thresholds) to wait an additional tax year after moving to a new homestead to qualify for reimbursement. Instead, they can immediately qualify following relocation, with the reimbursement based on property taxes from the year prior to moving into the new home. The change applies to tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2021, and does not affect the base year calculation for new construction properties.

Maddy summaryThis bill would appropriate $2.9 billion in state funding to ensure school districts receive aid equal to their "adequacy budget" as determined under New Jersey's School Funding Reform Act. It requires districts that receive increased state aid to reduce their property tax levies by the same amount, with specific provisions for districts where property taxes exceed 5% of district income. The bill also provides additional aid to districts that experienced funding cuts between 2018-2023 and repeals certain laws that contributed to reduced state aid and higher property taxes. The policy aims to align school funding with constitutional requirements for a "thorough and efficient" education system while reducing property tax burdens on residents.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A968) allows municipalities to challenge COAH (Council on Affordable Housing) orders requiring non-redevelopment housing projects on undeveloped land, unless the order addresses exclusionary zoning practices in that municipality. It excludes flood-prone land from affordable housing vacant land analysis, meaning land below flood elevation standards or within 100 feet of certain water bodies cannot be counted toward housing requirements. The bill caps a municipality's affordable housing obligation at a 5% population increase over a 10-year period, replacing the previous 1,000-unit limit. These provisions aim to balance housing needs with municipal planning considerations and environmental protections. The Department of Environmental Protection must develop rules for identifying flood-prone lands within seven months of enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows parking tickets to be served by regular or certified mail to the vehicle owner when the operator isn't present, rather than requiring personal delivery or attaching the ticket to the car. It also permits municipalities using authorized remote monitoring systems (like cameras) to issue tickets based on video evidence within 30 days of the violation, with mail service having the same legal effect as in-person delivery. The bill directly affects vehicle owners (especially in municipalities with remote monitoring systems) and law enforcement agencies that issue parking tickets. It modifies existing law to add mail as a valid service method, streamlining enforcement while requiring municipal authorization for remote monitoring systems.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts volunteer fire companies in New Jersey from paying charitable registration fees. Currently, these organizations must pay fees based on fundraising amounts if they exceed $25,000 annually, but the bill would remove this requirement entirely for all qualifying fire companies. The exemption applies to fire companies organized under state law and actively engaged in protecting life and property. Approximately 750 fire companies, which collectively pay about $52,000 in fees each year, would benefit from this change.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes how desecration of public monuments, places of worship, or other venerated objects is punished in New Jersey. It creates three penalty tiers based on the financial damage caused: a third-degree crime ($2,000+ damage), fourth-degree crime ($500-$2,000), or disorderly persons offense ($500 or less). It also adds desecration to the bias intimidation statute, meaning if the act is motivated by bias (e.g., against race, religion, or sexual orientation), it automatically becomes a higher-level offense. The changes directly affect individuals who intentionally damage such sites, with penalties ranging from up to six months in jail for minor damage to up to five years for significant financial harm.